A threatening opportunity : conversations about race-related experiences between Black and White friends

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Similarities are foundational to building and maintaining friendships, but for cross-race friends, differences in experiences related to race are also inevitable. I theorize that conversations about race-related experiences are a threatening opportunity. In Part I, Black and White friends expected that these conversations can enhance closeness and intergroup learning, but these benefits can be accompanied by identity threat. In Chapter 2, Black and White adults anticipated both benefits and risks of such conversations, though more benefits than risks. In Chapter 3, Black participants reported less willingness to disclose race-related experiences to extant White friends than Black friends and anticipated feeling less comfortable doing so, controlling for closeness. However, they also desired to be understood by Black and White friends equally. In Chapter 4, White participants also felt less comfortable when an imagined Black friend disclosed race-related versus nonrace-related experiences to them. However, they expected to feel closer to their friend after the race-related disclosure. Part II examines real-time video conversations between existing Black and White friends and reframes conversations about race to address friends' identity-based concerns. Findings revealed that Black and White friends are relatively well-positioned to discuss race-related experiences, and the framing had long-term benefits for Black friends' relationship quality, authenticity, and comfort talking about race. Taken together, this dissertation highlights the benefits as well as the risks of conversations about race for cross-race friends and begins to uncover strategies to help friends engage in these conversations productively.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic resource; remote; computer; online resource
Extent 1 online resource.
Place California
Place [Stanford, California]
Publisher [Stanford University]
Copyright date 2022; ©2022
Publication date 2022; 2022
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Author Sanchez, Kiara Lynn
Degree supervisor Walton, Gregory M. (Gregory Mariotti)
Thesis advisor Walton, Gregory M. (Gregory Mariotti)
Thesis advisor Eberhardt, Jennifer L. (Jennifer Lynn)
Thesis advisor Steele, Claude
Degree committee member Eberhardt, Jennifer L. (Jennifer Lynn)
Degree committee member Steele, Claude
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Psychology

Subjects

Genre Theses
Genre Text

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Kiara Sanchez.
Note Submitted to the Department of Psychology.
Thesis Thesis Ph.D. Stanford University 2022.
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/sp156xw9885

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2022 by Kiara Lynn Sanchez
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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